Improvement in grain-elevators



J. T. MOULTON. TIDE WATER GRAIN ELEVATOR.

No. 43,222. Patented June '21, 1864.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC JOSEPH T. MOULTON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 43,222, dated June 21, 1864.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Josnrn '1. MOULTON, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and Improved Tide-Water Grain-Elevator; and I do hereby declare that the following isa full, clear, and

exact description thereof, which will enable The object of this invention is to adapt an elevator to the holds of vessels a difl'erent stages-of the water, the height of ,hich may vary from six to seventy-five feet at diiferent times of the day or in different seasons, and to avoid entirely the necessity of abelt-tightener which is now universally used.

The invention consists in a circular track, forming a portion of a circle described from the driving-shaft, in combination with suitable guide-wheels and with the elevator, to

which motion is imparted by .a suitable belt from the driving-wheel in such a manner thatsaid elevator can readily rise and fall with the vessel from which grain or other material is to be elevated without requiring the least change in the length of the belt.

The invention consists, also, in suspending the elevator-shaft from a yoke, the arms of which form the bearings for said shaft, and which connects with a hoisting-tackle in such a manner that the elevator can be easily lowered down into or raised from the hold of a vessel and that the same can be adjusted at any desired height.

A represents the elevator, which is constructed, in the usual manner, of an endless belt, with buckets stretched over two pulleys and running in a suitable trunk, open at the bottom to take in the grain or other material to be elevated, and provided with a spout on top to discharge said material in suitable re-- ceivers. This elevator is put up in a suitable building or shed erected on a dock close to the waters edge, and it (the elevator) is intended to discharge grain or other similar material from vessels floating on the water. As the water rises and falls the elevator must rise and fall also, and in order to efi'ect this operation without efl'ect on the driving-beltl have secured to the ends of the elevator-shaft B two carriages, 0, each provided with one "or more wheels, at, which run on circular tracks vator-shaft is suspended from a yolke, E, the

arms a of which are provided with suitable boxes to form the bearin s for said shaft. The cross-bar f of said yo e connects by a suitable ring or hook with a triple block, g, from which a rope, 11, extends over a corresponding block, i, and down to-a cleat, j, that is fastened to the dock'or to the floor of the building or shed inclosing the entire 1116311- anismr By means of the rope h the elevator can be raised or lowered to any desired position, and by belayiug said rope outhe-cleats the elevator can be secured at any height. A weight, Zc, suspended from a rope, I, which branches ofl' in two strands and runs over pulley-blocks m, and thence tothe cross-bar f of the yoke E, serves to counterbalance the weight of said yoke and its attachments.

The operation of raising and lowering the elevator can be facilitated by means of the Windlass F, to which a rotary motion is imparted by a belt, n,-running from a pulley, 0, on the driving-shaft over a pulley,- p, on thewindlass-shaft q. A sliding clutch, 1', serves to throw the pulley p in and out 'of gear, and a ratchet wheel, 1;, and pawl s prevent the Windlass from turning in the wrong direction. By giving one turn of the rope h round the Windlass and holding onto the end of the rope when-the pulley p is in gear with the sliding clutch the elevator can be readily raised without exertion. In lowering the elein combination with the elevator A and driving-shaft E, in the manner and for the purpose substantially as herein specified.

2. The carriages O, in combination with the elevator-shaft B, trucks D, and driving-shaft E, constructed and operating in the manner and for the purpose substantially as set forth.

3. The yoke E, in combination with the elevator A, hoisting-tackle g h i, and Windlass F,

constructed and operating in the manner and for the purpose described.

JOSEPH T. MOULTON." Witnesses:

J NO. F. PHILLIPS, C. M. BRAGG. 

